Tolera T | October 9, 2013
Tesfaye Gebreab
Social reconstruction (as optimist call it) or destruction (as pessimists call it) in Ethiopia for the last 120 years has resulted a total annihilation of priceless indigenous knowledge, language and culture, and identity. It would have not been a case of any relevance to point out if it was the result of a continuous natural social shear and evolution. But rather it was a one way conquest that can best be described as imposition that was supported by the wealthy European empires of the time. People of such as Gafat who were entire engineers and entrepreneurs were destroyed while large nations such as the Oromos remain resilient. And this past history should be told without any precondition in all languages possible.
Traditionally, Oromo history especially in the context of Ethiopia is told in English and Afaan Oromo. This way it reaches both the international community and Oromos themselves. However, telling the truth in Ethiopia means addressing the resistant Abyssinian portion of the population that seems disconnected from the international community. Hence it requires telling in Amharic. And that is what several Oromos and non-Oromos have been doing. Read more…
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